I'm thinking a straight histogram would be more appropriate than a bell-line given that we're working with non-continuous variables, Grea!

/Nitpick

Now this really is turning into my old job...

Nice pick, Duncan :) Theoretically, the line chart is used to describe time periods (like the famous profit/loss charts you see in movies) but since we were talking about Bell Curves I felt it would describe things better than columns.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PQleyR

Interesting that the range goes 6" in either direction from the median value. A 30" or 14" bass drum wouldn't be unimaginable but it seems like 22" is all the averages, if you round up the mean! There must be something about that size in particular.

Good point, Ben. There are a few converted 14" floor tom --> bass drums out there. More than 30" (I've not seen one in the flesh/wood before).

Well a one-word or one-genre classification never tells the full story.

Agree entirely. 3D human beings cannot be reduced to 2D ciphers, not in any aspect of their being. But we make "for most practical means and purposes" assumptions for simplicity's sake.

Data analysis is really useful when it's treated as a guide rather than gospel truth. Makes me think of the parable of the the blind men who variously say that an elephant is like a tree trunk, a rope, a wall, spear, fan or snake.

Don't want to speak for others but for me it's about the right sized drum for the right style of jazz. If I was playing big band I'd use a larger sized drum perhaps. I have my Dad's old 26" Ludwig bass should the need ever arise which is what he used for his big band days.

The style and sound I'm into is the small group music from 50's onward which was generally (not always) played with an 18" or 20". I can and do play the small group stuff from any era with an 18". The drum doesn't need to cut through a big band. That being said, I've used an 18" with a big band and it has worked fine.

Additionally and perhaps more importantly the shell pack market reflects this at least with the drums I play and the places I shop from. A bop kit is generally packaged with an 18" bass. A bop kit packaged with a 20" bass drum is something I haven't come across. Since I'm not willing to fork over the cash for a "customized" cherry picked set, an 18" works well for me.

I would also be remiss if I didn't say, at the end of the day, I love the sound and feel of an 18". It's my favorite size to play.

The surprise to me, is the small number of those using 20" bass drums.

I've always been a fan and an advocate. I wish more drummers played a 20". It's really like an untapped gem. You don't realize how much space it saves until it goes in your back seat that much easier or takes up just a little less space on stage.

It's not the difference between an 18"x26" and a 14"x18" but it does make a difference. I can set my toms a little lower too.

20" kicks, 21" rides... There's a few things like that that are just so perfect and so unused by a lot of people.

BTW, where are the funksters? ... the Garibaldi and Chambers disciples? What about the fusioneers?

Perhaps is the fact that "Funk" and "Fusion" were not proposed in your OP post as a "style" to chose from Grea, same as "Jazz rock" which is not the same as "Jazz", but then I'm wondering why there's so little entry as "other", I almost chose "other" when I gave my style and size, but since I play a lot of rock and pop/rock too I chose "Rock" as the predominant style.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anon La Ply

Progress report

Interesting, isn't it? Most of the members here play "Rock", and accordingly, the most popular size is 22", kinda logical to me, lol.

But has it's been said, "Rock" encompasses many sub-genres, so within the 77% average, there's probably a wide range of rock drumming style here, one basket from the same shop, but with many different ingredients and flavors in it. "Rock" is a giant supermarket :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by keep it simple

The surprise to me, is the small number of those using 20" bass drums.

Ditto for me, I knew it wouldn't beat the 22", but I'm surprised it's even less popular than an 18" bass drum, stats eh?

Ditto for me, I knew it wouldn't beat the 22", but I'm surprised it's even less popular than an 18" bass drum, stats eh?

It ain't "stats", young Henry. People always say it's "stats" and, sometimes it is, most times it's interpretation or other factors.

Seven out the 10 people who said they mainly play jazz play have an 18" bass and, as David suggested, shell packs for kits designated as jazz kits come standard with 18" bass drums in the same way as rock kits come standard with 22" bass.

The biggest "stats" issue is genre. I think of it mostly as loud/soft ... in hindsight I would have liked to have broken things up by dynamics instead or, better still, gig type which could go something like this:

The biggest "stats" issue is genre. I think of it mostly as loud/soft ...

It makes sense Grea, because you've chosen "lounge" as your predominant style, while I definitely put you in the "Rock" section due to the material you're covering with the Blue Mabels, which for most, is rock songs. So the loud/soft "style" is very much appropriate and probably more relevant than "music" styles, irrelevant of bass drum sizes.

Gig type won't work (at least for me), I've done all the one you listed, more of the last 4 than the 1st one admittedly.

It makes sense Grea, because you've chosen "lounge" as your predominant style, while I definitely put you in the "Rock" section due to the material you're covering with the Blue Mabels, which for most, is rock songs.

We play a number of rock songs but you can sit at a table in front of the band and have a conversation. Rock bands don't tend to play these songs - at least not all of them ...

At Last
Chitlins Con Carne
Cry Me a River
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Hallelujah
Love For Sale
Love Letters Straight from the Heart
Love Me or Leave Me
Moondance
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Spooky
Summertime
The Look Of Love
Walk On By
You Don't Know What Love Is

We play a number of rock songs but you can sit at a table in front of the band and have a conversation.

What defines a style of music, the songs or being able to have a conversation while the band is playing... and I'm not counting all your other bands, which were on the "rock" side too :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anon La Ply

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I think it is entirely against the ethos of rock to play at such a polite volume. There are jazz bands out there who are louder than we are. Comfortable with "lounge". But yes, 15 yrs ago I was a standard 22", rock.